Almost everyone knows the USGA. Not everyone knows that they do a whole lot more than maintain the rules of golf, test golf balls and golf equipment.  All of the aforementioned is important to our game, but lets not forget where we have been.

After being closed for the previous three years, the USGA is about to open a completely renovated, enlarged golf museum. The former USGA Golf House will be renamed as the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. A new center that much more clearly delineates the unique eras of golf as they transcend through history. The new museum will begin with golf in its American infancy and travel onwards to our current day, world inspired game. The old golf house will be completely unique and up to date.

Entrance to the soon to be, new and improved Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History.

The last time that I visited the USGA Golf House was back in 1997 and it was strictly as an outsider looking in. This time around, and since everything is off display, I was afforded a behind the scenes look at some golden golf history thanks to Dr. Rand Jerris. Just like us, Rand is an avid golfer, and an art history major a few times over. Rand shagged golf balls for iron byron back in the late 1980’s during a summer internship at the USGA.  He is responsible for computerizing the complete USGA collection and has seen the museum staff numbers grow from only 2 people to the 10 that are there now. Rand is the USGA Museum Director, and has probably forgotten more about golf history than I can remember.

Unfortunately, time did not allow me to peruse everything stored away in the USGA’s basement, if so I’d still be there, gawking away.  With so much golf history on tap, most of which has never even been on public display, it is very difficult for me to choose a starting (and ending) point for this story. It may be just the first.

Before deciding upon a renovated and expanded golf museum in Far Hills, New Jersey there was much discussion at the USGA about the possible relocation of the golf museum. The USGA toyed with such locations as New York City, Monterrey, California and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ultimately, the USGA stayed true to its roots and stayed in place.  The new Golf House will be called the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. This museum is much different and in my opinion much more important than say, the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida. They are very different from each other and each serves vastly different purpose. You say that you have already visited the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame so why do you need to pay homage to the Palmer Center? Well, for a lot of reasons. Roots. Yes, learn where golf has been and see where it is now in the present.

The WGC used to be located in Pinehurst. With their move to Florida they became focused on their elected hall of famers, those specific professional players. There are some others, but mainly professionals and their stories and accomplishments.

The USGA is focused upon the history of golf in the United States.  It is a museum that tells the great stories of our amateur champions and the USGA championships. It will continue to be a museum depicting the old history of golf from Scotland to the present evolution of golf equipment. It delineates more personal stories, from equipment to the great and storied players of our time and times past.

As you enter the new museum, which will almost double in size to over 30,000 square feet you’ll be torn between the Bobby Jones room and the Arnold Palmer room, but don’t worry you’ll have ample time for both. The giant sketch of Arnie that greets you will come alive in words and be interactive in nature. I don’t want to give it away (yet), but one of Arnie’s fans devoted 14 years of his life into making this “word drawing” come alive for us.

A few Arnold Palmer items for your viewing pleasure.

While sitting down with Rand, I asked him to choose what he believes are the three most intriguing items within the USGA’s golf collection. Although he had a very tough time choosing, his top three were:

His first choice was Francis Quimet’s original set of irons from the 1913 US Open. These were acquired from a family that had purchased them from Eddie Lowery, the young caddy who later became a millionaire. This family had the 4 irons. The USGA already had the putter. The USGA kept tabs on these clubs and when the couple reached their golden years they went to the USGA and really to all of us.  There are no woods or golf bag; it is unknown where they are today. The golf clubs were actually authenticated by Eddie Lowery himself. The USGA had to wait patiently for 30 years to take possession of these historic and priceless clubs. If you enjoyed the movie or book, The Greatest Game Ever Played, you’ll surely appreciate this collection at the new museum.

Sample plaque that commemorates past USGA Champions.

The priceless, Bobby Jones’ Calamity Jane 2 putter was his second choice. Bobby Jones won 10 of 13 major events with this putter. The original Calamity Jane putter resides at Augusta National. After developing a crack in the wooden shaft, Bobby had thin black wire wrapped very tightly around the shaft in order to prevent it from cracking more. The original Calamity Jane putter was retired and the back up (#2) was put into play. Bobby soon added the signature black wire because he was so used to seeing it on the shaft as he putted. Obviously it worked, as this putter was used to win more than his fair share of golf tournaments. I was fortunate enough to hold this putter, quite possibly the most famous of all golf clubs. Certainly the most coveted of all putters, at least until Tiger Woods has long since finished playing competitive golf.

Notice the tightly wound wire on Calamity Jane No. 2. It served a purpose for Mr. Jones.

Robert Tyre Jones and Calamity Jane (#2), golf legends. 10 majors, enough said.

Lastly, Rand had a tie for third place. The first, which is quite compelling, is Jim Chase’s unique portrait of Arnold Palmer. Artist Jim Chase spent 14 years drawing microscopic letters, using words to create and shape the final portrait. Jim gave one of just five copies to Arnold and Arnold graciously gave it to the USGA. The drawing, or lettering if you will, carries deep meaning. It contains a total of 22,719 words. Get really close and you’ll see them, from a few feet away it looks like a masterful inked sketch. It will be the centerpiece in the Palmer room and it will become an interactive experience where you can zoom in on a quote or series of words to see why the artist chose them in his design. Of course, you know Tiger Woods made Rand’s picks as well. For historical significance, he choose a Titleist wedge that Tiger Woods used to assist him with decimating the field and setting a US Open scoring record when he won the US Open at Pebble Beach.

The future centerpiece of the Arnold Palmer Room courtesy of artist Jim Chase and Arnie.

It sure doesn’t look like much now, but this room will be the "world golf era " space in the new museum.

All very interesting choices by Mr. Jerris, but I’d have to insert that 6 iron that made it to the moon as well making a three way tie.  These are just a very select few golf items of historical significance that live on at the USGA for all of us.

The new and improved USGA Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History will open in late May with an Arnold Palmer attended Grand Opening celebration in early June. I know that if I am in the New Jersey area, I’ll be there.